SMART ARM-Based Microcontroller

AT03975: Getting Started with SAM L21

APPLICATION NOTE

Descripton
® ®
This application note aims at getting started with the Atmel SAM L21 ARM
®
Cortex -M0+ based microconroller.

Features
®
• Getting started with Atmel SAM L21 microcontrollers and tools
• Atmel SAM D20 Xplained PRO and Atmel Studio 6.2 getting started

Atmel-42410A-Getting-Started-with-SAML21_AT03975_Application Note-02/2015
Table of Contents

Descripton....................................................................................................................... 1

Features.......................................................................................................................... 1

1. Get the Device Datasheet..........................................................................................3

2. Get the SAM L21 Xplained Pro Evaluation Kit...........................................................4

3. Get the Tools..............................................................................................................5

3.1. Get Atmel Studio 6.2.................................................................................................................... 5
3.2. Get IAR Embedded Workbench for ARM..................................................................................... 5
3.3. Get Atmel Software Framework (ASF)......................................................................................... 5

4. Atmel Studio 6.2 Users Getting Started.....................................................................6

5. What's Next............................................................................................................... 8

6. Revision History.........................................................................................................9

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1. Get the Device Datasheet
Web page: SAM L series
Document/file: Atmel SAM L21 Datasheet (summary, complete)(.pdf)
• Select the required device (i.e. ATSAML21J18A) and get the latest datasheet (.pdf file). There are
two versions:
– Complete version (includes all peripheral descriptions and electrical characteristics)
– Summary version

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2. Get the SAM L21 Xplained Pro Evaluation Kit
Figure 2-1 SAM L21 Xplained Pro kit

Web page: SAM L21 Xplained Pro

Get the kit: Atmel Store
Document/file:
• SAM L21 Xplained Pro User Guide application note (.pdf)
Key features:
• SAML21J18A microcontroller
• One mechanical reset button
• One mechanical programmable button
®
• One QTouch button
• One yellow user LED
• Backup battery
• 32.768kHz crystal
• USB interface, device and reduced host mode
• Three Xplained Pro extension headers
• Embedded Debugger
– Auto-ID for board identification in Atmel Studio
– One yellow status LED
– One green board power LED
– Symbolic debug of complex data types icluding scope information
– Programming and debugging, including power measurements
– Data Gateway Interface: SPI, I2C, four GPIOs
– Virtual COM port (CDC)
• Embedded current measurement circuitry, with Atmel Data Visualizer support for data visualization
• USB powered
• Supported with application examples in Atmel Software Framework
The SAM L21 Xplained Pro User Guide application note covers how to power the kit, the detailed
information on board components, extension interface and the hardware guide.

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3. Get the Tools
Atmel Studio 6.2, which uses GCC compiler, is the preferred IDE to get started with SAM L21. Atmel
™
Software Framework supports the IAR compiler and the ASF standalone package can be used to get
example projects for SAM L21 in the IAR IDE.

3.1. Get Atmel Studio 6.2

Web page: Atmel Studio
Document/file:
• Atmel Studio 6.2 sp2 Installer - Full (.exe)
Atmel Studio 6.2 sp2 or later is the preferred IDE for developing and debugging firmware for SAM L21.

3.2. Get IAR Embedded Workbench for ARM

® ®
Web page: IAR Embedded Workbench for ARM
Document/file: IAR installer for ARM

3.2.1. Get SAM L21 Xplained Pro Embedded Debugger Software(Segger J-link)
Web page: Segger J-link
Document/file: J-Link software
This software is required to use SAM L21 Xplained Pro embedded debugger with IAR IDE.

3.3. Get Atmel Software Framework (ASF)

Web page: Atmel Software Framework
Document/file:
• ASF update for Atmel Studio (.vsix)
• ASF standalone package for GCC makefile and IAR users (.zip)
• ASF Getting started (.pdf)
• ASF Reference manual (.pdf)
ASF online documentation for available APIs and examples can be found at Atmel Software Framework
Documentation.

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4. Atmel Studio 6.2 Users Getting Started
Prerequisites:
• Atmel Studio 6.2 SP2 or above installed
• ASF version 3.21 or later (comes with Atmel Studio 6.2 SP2)
• The SAM L21 Xplained Pro board connected to Atmel Studio 6.2 through the embedded debugger
USB connector. The kit will be powered by the USB.
Work flow:
• Launch Atmel Studio 6.2
• The page shown in Figure 4-1 SAM L21 Xplained Pro Page in Atmel Studio on page 6 will
appear when the SAM L21 Xplained Pro board is connected to Atmel Studio 6.2
Figure 4-1 SAM L21 Xplained Pro Page in Atmel Studio

• Open ASF examples by clicking "New Example Project..."

• Select one of the examples (e.g. "Delay Service Example", see Figure 4-2 New Example Project
for SAM L21 on page 7), press OK and accept the license agreement. Then the project will be
created and opened.

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 Figure 4-2 New Example Project for SAM L21

• Open project properties ("Project->Properties" or shortcut "ALT+F7")

• In Tool view, see Figure 4-3 Debugger and Interface for SAM L21 on page 7, set "Selected
debugger/programmer" to XPRO-EDBG and "Interface" to SWD
Figure 4-3 Debugger and Interface for SAM L21

• Build the project ("Build->Build Solution" or shortcut "F7")

• Load the code into SAM L21 Xplained Pro and start debugging ("Debug->Start debugging and
break" or shortcut "ALT+F5")
• The application is programmed and the debugger breaks in main
• Run the code ("Debug->Continue" or shortcut "F5")

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5. What's Next
For further information on related Atmel products and IDE, refer to the links below:
• Atmel Studio videos: http://www.atmel.com/microsite/atmel_studio6/default.aspx
• Atmel Studio help: "Help-> View Help" (CTRL+F1)
• ASF Getting Started: http://www.atmel.com/tools/AVRSOFTWAREFRAMEWORK.aspx
• ASF Reference Manual: http://www.atmel.com/tools/AVRSOFTWAREFRAMEWORK.aspx
• ASF online documentation: http://asf.atmel.com
• More technical documentation concerning various products: http://www.atmel.com/webdoc/

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6. Revision History
Doc. Rev. Date Comments
42410A 02/2015 Initial document release.

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